• Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
• NASCAR Wire Service -

NASCAR is ‘Throwing It Back’ at Darlington Raceway

It’s time to turn back the clock and celebrate Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway.

NASCAR legends of today and yesteryear will come together this weekend to pay homage to the sport’s past, and in the process run the 13th race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, the Goodyear 400 (Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Many of the drivers and teams will be paying tribute to the past this weekend with special paint schemes on their cars.

Historic Darlington Raceway is a perfect stage for Throwback Weekend

The industry and fans alike all agree Darlington Raceway is the perfect stage for Throwback Weekend.

The historic 1.366-mile egg-shaped paved oval, known as Darlington Raceway, has hosted 125 NASCAR Cup Series races dating back to 1950. The raceway was originally built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-1950 and hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history, and the first on asphalt on September 4, 1950. A total of 75 cars competed in the inaugural event and Curtis Turner won the pole at 82.034 mph. The race was won by Johnny Mantz (Plymouth, 75.250 mph), and it took 6 hours, 38 minutes, and 40 seconds to complete.

Since then, Darlington Raceway has undergone some changes through the years. In 1953, the track was re-measured to 1.375 miles. Then in 1970, the track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race of that season. The track was repaved in 1995 and then again prior to the 2008 season. Over the years the historic facility has become known amongst its competitors as ‘the track too tough to tame.’

In total, the 125 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway have produced 54 different pole winners and 54 different race winners.

Ring-in Mother’s Day this Sunday with NASCAR

This weekend’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway (Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will be the 11th-time in NASCAR Cup Series history the series has competed on Mother’s Day.

The 2021 season was the first time since 2007 the NASCAR Cup Series had competed on Mother’s Day. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. took the win on May 9, 2021 becoming the seventh different driver to win on Mother’s Day in the series.

Then in 2022, Team Penske’s Joey Logano joined in the Mother’s Day festivities grabbing his first win on the special holiday on May 8, 2022, becoming the eighth different driver to win on Mother’s Day.

And last season, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron joined the list of drivers to win on Mother’s Day after capturing his first win on the special holiday on May 14, 2023, becoming the ninth different driver to win on Mother’s Day.

Prior to the 2021 season race, the most recent winner on Mother’s Day in the NASCAR Cup Series was NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, who won the 2007 rain delayed Darlington Raceway race on May 13, 2007.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker holds the record for the most wins on Mother’s Day in the NASCAR Cup Series with two victories on the special holiday (1956, 1954).

Majority of Darlington wins come from starting in the top-10

Looking through the data, it’s clear starting inside the top-10 is advantageous to a driver’s winning chances. Of the 125 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, 104 have been won from a top-10 starting spot – a winning percentage of 83.2%. Defending Darlington winner, William Byron, grabbed the win at 1.366-mile track last season after taking the green flag in the fourth starting spot.

The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (21) than any other starting position at Darlington (16.80%). The outside front row (second starting position) has produced the second-most Darlington wins at 18 (14.40%)

A total of 54 different drivers have won the Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway, and only 12 drivers have won from the pole or first starting position at Darlington Raceway in the series; led by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson with four wins from the pole (1971, 1972, 1976 sweep). Team Penske’s Joey Logano (2022) is the only active driver to win from the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington.

NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 12 (1967, ’70, ’72, ’73 sweep, ’75 sweep, ’76 sweep, ’77, ’78 and ’82). This weekend, six of the 54 NASCAR Cup Series Darlington pole winners are active, led by Team Penske’s Joey Logano with two poles (2022 sweep).

Dancing with the ‘Lady In Black’

Almost every driver who has ever competed in NASCAR will tell you that Darlington Raceway is one of the most challenging tracks to master, and because of that challenge, it is one of the competitor’s favorites on the schedule.

Over the years Darlington has produced 54 different Cup winners. This weekend, eight of the 54 former winners are entered in Sunday’s Goodyear 400, led by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin with four victories (2010, 2017, 2020, 2021).

NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Darlington Raceway with 10 wins (1968, ’70, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76 sweep, ’77, ’79, 80); followed by Dale Earnhardt with nine and Jeff Gordon with seven.

This weekend’s Goodyear 400 will be 293 laps (400.2 miles) and will be broken up into three stages. The first stage will be 90 laps, the second stage will be 95 laps and the final stage will be 108 laps.

On-track activity for the NASCAR Cup Series is set to start with practice and Busch Light Pole qualifying, and both events will be televised on FS1 starting at 10:30 a.m. ET on May 11.

Loop Data Lowdown: Stats point to Hamlin as the driver to beat at Darlington

Among active drivers this weekend, one driver has risen above the rest statistically at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin.

The 43-year old, Hamlin, has made 23 starts at Darlington Raceway and leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the following stats at the 1.366-mile track:

• Wins: 4 (2010, 2017, 2020, 2021)
• Runner-Ups: 4 (2007, 2012, 2013, 2022)
• Top Fives: 12
• Top 10s: 16
• Driver Rating: 107.2
• Average Starting Position: 8.826
• Average Running Position: 7.778
• Average Finishing Position: 8.435
• Laps Led: 978
• Laps in the Top 15: 7,043 Laps, 88.0%

Approaching regular season midway point, nine Playoff spots still available

As the NASCAR Cup Series approaches its midway point of the regular season with race No. 13 on 2024 schedule, the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway (Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) it’s no surprise the season is off to a hot start competitively. As the series heads to Darlington Raceway this weekend, seven drivers – Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Daniel Suarez – have earned their spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs by virtue of their wins this year, leaving nine postseason positions still available.

Currently, of the drivers trying to earn a spot on points, Martin Truex Jr. has the largest point cushion above the cutoff with +155 points. But at the other end Playoff outlook in the hot seat is RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski, who is grasping ahold of his 16th and final Playoff spot by a mere four points over 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace in 17th, and 18 points over two-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano in 18th.

Five former Darlington winners without victories this season

A total of eight former NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Raceway winners are active this weekend in the Goodyear 400 (May 12 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), and five of them are still looking for their first win of the 2024 season.

Returning after two weeks off due to injury is Legacy Motor Club’s Erik Jones, who won at Darlington Raceway in 2019 and in 2022. Jones is currently wrestling a winless streak that dates back to his win at Darlington on September 4, 2022 – 57 races ago. The Byron, Michigan native has made 12 starts at the ‘Lady In Black’ posting two wins (2019, 2022), five top fives and eight top 10s. His average finish at 1.366-mile track is 11.8 (fifth-best among active drivers).

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Marttin Truex Jr. also has multiple Cup Series wins at Darlington Raceway (2016, 2021). Currently, Truex is managing a winless streak that dates back to July 17, 2023 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – 28 races ago. At Darlington, Truex has made 23 career series starts putting up one pole, two wins (2016, 2021), four top fives and 10 top 10s. His average finish at the 1.366-mile track is 13.4 (eighth-best among active drivers).

RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski captured his victory at Darlington Raceway in 2018, but don’t count him out this weekend. Keselowski is straddling a winless streak that dates back to April 25, 2021 at Talladega Superspeedway – 110 races ago. Keselowski has made 20 series starts at Darlington putting up one pole, one win (2018), six top fives and 11 top 10s. His average finish is 11.4 (fourth-best among active drivers).

Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch secured his NASCAR Cup Series Darlington victory in 2008, then driving for Hendrick Motorsports. Now, the two-time Cup Series champion returns to Darlington on a winless streak that dates back to June 4, 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway – 33 races ago. Busch is also looking to extend his series record of 19 straight season with a victory to 20. Busch has made 24 series starts at Darlington posting one win (2008), six top fives and 14 top 10s. His average finish at Darlington is 13.3 (seventh-best among active drivers).

Team Penske’s Joey Logano earned his lone victory at Darlington Raceway in 2022 from the pole position. This season, Logano finds himself below the Playoff cutline (18th) looking for his first win of the year. Logano is riding a winless streak that dates back to March 19, 2023 at Atlanta Motor Speedway – 43 races ago. Logano has made 20 series starts at Darlington putting up one pole, one win (2022), six top fives and 10 top 10s. His average finish is 13.2 (sixth-best among active drivers).

NASCAR Cup Series & the Next Gen car continue to deliver

For the second-time this season the NASCAR Cup Series race came down to a photo-finish, further proving the series and the Next Gen car produce some of the greatest racing on the planet. Here just a few of the highlights from this season thus far.

Last Sunday the average Margin of Victory of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was 0.001-second, the closest Margin of Victory in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Two of the NASCAR Cup Series top-five closest Margins of Victory have occurred this season – 1. 2024 Kansas (0.001), 2. 2003 Darlington (0.002), 2011 Talladega (0.002), 3. 2024 Atlanta (0.003), 4. 1993 Talladega (0.005), 2007 Daytona (0.005), 5. 2001 Atlanta (0.006).

This season the NASCAR Cup Series has produced 37 different lap leaders through the first 12 races of the season, the series-most different lap leaders since 2011 (40). This season is also averaging 12.33 lap leaders per race, the third-most in the Modern Era (1972-2024).

This 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced 29.25 average lead changes per race, the third-most in the Cup Series through 12 races in the Modern Era (1972-2024); behind the 2011 (33.6), and 2010 (30.7) seasons. The NASCAR Cup Series is seeing a year-over-year increase of +17.9% in lead changes (’23 vs ’24).

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway race produced 66 Green Flag Passes for the Lead – series-most at Kansas since the inception of the Loop Data stat in 2005. The previous Kansas record for Green Flag Passes for the Lead in the Cup Series was 65 Green Flag Passes for the Lead set in 2023.

Through the first 12 races on the Cup Series schedule, the 2024 season’s Green Flag Passes for the Lead total (979) is up +24.6% compared to the 2023 season’s total (786 Green Flag Passes for the Lead).

You can expect more great action this weekend at one of NASCAR’s most historic and iconic tracks – Darlington Raceway. In fact, the 1.366-mile track at one time held the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history (2003 race – Ricky Craven won by 0.002-second over Kurt Busch).

Below are the top five closest finishes at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series:

NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Ray Evernham named Grand Marshal for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 - Darlington Raceway announced this week that NASCAR Hall of Famer, former team owner and crew chief Ray Evernham will serve as the Grand Marshal on Sunday for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. The NASCAR legend will deliver the starting command for one of the most thrilling NASCAR Cup Series races of the season, which culminates The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR at the Track Too Tough to Tame.

“There are few NASCAR crew chiefs as decorated and committed to improving the sport of stock car racing as Ray Evernham,” said Josh Harris, President of Darlington Raceway. “It’s a pleasure to highlight Evernham’s impact by naming him as Grand Marshal during NASCAR’s Official Throwback Weekend.”

Less than a decade into his illustrious career, Ray Everham’s name was cemented in the history books. As crew chief, Evernham led Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 team to three Cup Series Championship titles, four Cook Out Southern 500 victories at Darlington Raceway, two DAYTONA 500 triumphs and a series-leading 49 wins in the 1990s. His innovation on pit road earned his No. 24 pit crew the nickname “Rainbow Warriors.”

Evernham recognized the special abilities of his pit crew and capitalized on their strengths, incorporating regular physical conditioning, speed and coordination drills and film review sessions into their training.

In 2001, Evernham became a team owner, spearheading the return of Dodge to NASCAR with Evernham Motorsports. His Cup Series drivers won 13 times under his leadership, including Bill Elliott’s victory in the 2002 Brickyard 400. At Darlington, Evernham’s teams garnered four top-five finishes and three poles.

Evernham, a New Jersey native, found success as a modified driver in the northeast during the 1970s and 1980s. Evernham raced against the stars of the Northeast modified circuit, includingJerry Cookand Richie Evans, both NASCAR Hall of Famers. He competed regularly at Wall Stadium Speedway, a 1/4-mile high-banked paved oval track in Wall Township, N.J.

Geoff Bodine named Grand Marshal of Throwback Parade in Darlington – Darlington Raceway announced today that former NASCAR Cup Series driver Geoff Bodine will serve as the Grand Marshal for Saturday’s Darlington Raceway Throwback Parade. Bodine will lead the annual parade of NASCAR’s Official Throwback Weekend, accompanied by a host of local dignitaries, vintage race cars and nostalgic floats.

“The annual Throwback Parade is a highlight for so many in our local community as well as race fans that have traveled to Darlington, so we are proud to continue celebrating our rich racing history and the legends of NASCAR,” said Josh Harris, President of Darlington Raceway. “In recognition of Geoff Bodine’s 1982 career-altering triumph at The Lady in Black, it’s a pleasure to name him as Grand Marshal of the Darlington Raceway Throwback Parade.”

Bodine credits his 1982 NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Darlington Raceway as the race that launched his NASCAR Cup Series career. Driving the No. 99 for team owner Frank Plessinger, Bodine held off Jody Ridley by nearly 5 seconds to take the victory. The race featured several NASCAR Cup Series drivers, including the likes of David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt and Harry Gant. The following week, NASCAR Cup Series team owner Cliff Stewart was so impressed with Bodine’s effort that he called him and offered him the driver’s seat of his No. 50 Pontiac, stating “if you can win Darlington, you can win anywhere, so drive my car.”

Bodine, 75, was a celebrated NASCAR Modified racer from Chemung, N.Y., prior to trying his hand in stock cars. During his grass roots racing career, he raced against NASCAR Hall of Famers Jerry Cook and Richie Evans among others in the Modified division. Throughout his 29-year career, Bodine amassed 18 NASCAR Cup Series triumphs, including a DAYTONA 500 victory (1986), and was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers (2023).

The Darlington Raceway Throwback Parade will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, at South of Pearl (117 Edwards Ave) and conclude in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Garage at Darlington Raceway. Other slated participants include Jeff Burton, Kenny Wallace, Leonard Wood, Ron Hornaday Jr. and more.

Milestone Watch: NASCAR Cup Series edition – Below are a few of the possible milestones that can be achieved this Sunday and over the next few weeks in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Starts

Ross Chastain will make his 200th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Darlington Raceway this weekend becoming the 145th different driver in the series to make 200 or more starts. In the Florida native’s first 199 starts in the Cup Series he has managed to put up four wins, 29 top fives, 48 top 10s and one pole. He has also led 1,510 laps in the series. This will be Chastain’s 10 career Cup start at Darlington Raceway this weekend. He has posted two top-five finishes at the 1.366-mile track.

Corey Lajoie is expected to make his 250th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Chase Elliott is expected to make his 300th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Kyle Larson is expected to make his 350th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Nashville Superspeedway.

Austin Cindric is expected to make his 100th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Pocono Raceway

Kyle Busch is expected to make his 700th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Wins

Denny Hamlin currently has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list with 55 victories each.

Martin Truex Jr. currently has 34 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Brad Keselowski for 24th on the all-time wins list with 35 victories each.

Joey Logano currently has 32 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts for 27th on the all-time wins list with 33 victories each.

Kyle Larson currently has 25 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Fred Lorenzen for 32nd on the all-time wins list with 26 victories each.

Laps Led

Four drivers could reach milestones in laps led this weekend at Darlington Raceway.

If Hamlin were to reach 15,000 laps led, he would become the 12th driver all-time to accomplish the feat.

Crew Member Spotlight: Darlington Raceway – This weekend at Darlington Raceway we wanted to highlight several of the team’s crew members that are from the surrounding areas of the track in South Carolina.

Chris Jackson is the Rear Tire Changer for the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team. Jackson hails from Fort Mills, South Carolina and prior to working in NASCAR Jackson attended Fort Mills High School and Charleston Southern University. He then went on to compete in Arena Football, the Canadian Football League and the NFL.

Telvin McClurkin is the Tire Carrier for the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford team. McClurkin calls Columbia, South Carolina his hometown. Prior to working in NASCAR, McClurkin attended Coastal Carolina University and played college football.

Bailey Walker is the Fueler for the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford team. Walker hails from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina and prior to working in NASCAR he attended Gardner-Webb University where he played college football as an offensive lineman.

Daniel Rosensteel is the Hauler Driver for the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team. Rosensteel is from Greenville, South Carolina.

Lucas Tucker is the Interior Mechanic for the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet team. Tucker is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Cody Sauls is a Mechanic for the No. 2 Team Penske Ford team. Sauls is from Hampton, South Carolina.

South Carolina charm in NASCAR – A total of 140 different drivers have made at least one NASCAR national series start with their home state recorded as South Carolina.

James Hylton leads all NASCAR drivers from South Carolina with the most NASCAR national series starts with 607.

Three drivers from South Carolina have been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame – David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, and Cotton Owens.

In total, 11 drivers from South Carolina have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series totaling 240 victories; seven have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.

• Goodyear 400
• Busch Pole Award Pole Winner: Tyler Reddick
• Age: 28
• Team : No 45 - MoneyLion Toyota
• Owner: Michael Jordan
• Crew Chief: Billy Scott
• Tyler Reddick won the Pole Award for the Goodyear 400 with a lap of 28906 seconds, 170124 mph
• This is his seventh pole in 159 NASCAR Cup Series races
• This is his first pole and sixth top-10 start in 2024
• This is his first pole in ten races at Darlington Raceway
• Brad Keselowski (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2024 and his 14th in 21 races at Darlington Raceway
• Chris Buescher (third) posted his second top-10 start at Darlington Raceway It is his fourth in 13 races this season
• Carson Hocevar (21st) was the fastest qualifying rookie

• Drivers Entered: 36
• Laps Scheduled: 293
• Margin of Victory: 01.214 Seconds
• Time of Race: 3 Hours 12 Minutes 30 Seconds
• Average Speed: 124.750
• Cautions: 6 for 38 laps
• Lead Changes: 16
• Green Flag Passes: 3,015 (11.8 passes per green flag lap)

• Goodyear 400
• Race Winner: Brad Keselowski
• Age: 40
• Team : No 6 - Castrol Ford
• Owner: Jack Roush
• Crew Chief: Matt McCall
• Brad Keselowski won the Goodyear 400, his 36th victory in 534 Cup Series races
• This is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2024
• This is his second victory and 12th top-10 finish in 21 races at Darlington Raceway
• Ty Gibbs (second) posted his first top-10 finish in four races at Darlington Raceway It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2024
• Josh Berry (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Darlington Raceway
• Josh Berry (third) was the highest finishing rookie
• Kyle Larson leads the point standings by 30 points over Martin Truex Jr